Search Results (26,408)

Efficient and financially sustainable social protection systems are essential under conditions of economic instability and increasing social demand. However, traditional administrative models are often characterized by high operational costs, procedural complexity, and delayed benefit delivery. This study examines the role of digitalization, process automation, and AI-driven administrative solutions in reducing administrative expenses while enhancing the sustainability and resilience of social protection systems. An integrated Automation Index is developed using standardized proxy indicators that reflect reductions in operational and transaction costs associated with digital and automated technologies. To assess future trajectories of administrative expenses, scenario-based modelling is applied under three digital transformation paths—baseline, moderate, and intensive. Administrative efficiency is estimated using a translog Stochastic Frontier Analysis (SFA) framework. The results indicate that digitalization and automation significantly reduce administrative costs only when supported by favorable institutional conditions, including decentralized governance, effective inter-agency coordination, and clearly regulated administrative procedures. Under the intensive digital transformation scenario, administrative expenses decline substantially relative to the baseline, while system responsiveness and beneficiary coverage improve. In contrast, weak institutional environments limit the efficiency gains of technological solutions. The study concludes that AI agents and automated systems should be viewed not as substitutes for human decision-making but as tools for optimizing administrative architectures. This transition from resource-intensive to technology-intensive models is particularly important for developing countries seeking sustainable social protection under constrained fiscal conditions. Full article

Repetitive head impacts (RHIs) in combat and contact sports are associated with long-term neuropsychological consequences. The present study explores episodic memory performance, with a focus on pattern separation, a memory process associated with hippocampal function, in athletes characterized by different exposure profiles to RHIs. The study included 26 fighters (boxing, Mixed Martial Arts, Muay Thai), 20 rugby players, and 26 age-matched controls. Participants completed the Mnemonic Similarity Task (MST) and additional cognitive measures (Digit Span, Digit Symbol Substitution Test, Attentional Matrices, and N-back tasks). Group differences were assessed using ANCOVAs. Results indicated that fighters exhibited significantly poorer pattern separation performance compared to both rugby players and controls. Rugby players also performed worse than controls on the pattern separation measure, revealing a graded pattern of performance across groups. Additionally, fighters demonstrated slower reaction times during the MST and lower performance on the N-back tasks relative to both comparison groups. Overall, athletes participating in sports characterized by different exposure profiles to RHIs showed distinct patterns of cognitive performance, with the most pronounced differences observed in fighters. These findings highlight pattern separation as a potentially sensitive cognitive marker in athletes participating in combat and contact sports and underscore the need for longitudinal studies incorporating objective measures of head-impact exposure. Full article

Background/Objectives: The G protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER) is known to interact with cellular stress responses and DNA damage pathways. Therefore, exposure to ionizing radiation may modulate the biological consequences of single-nucleotide polymorphisms in the GPR30 gene. This study aims to evaluate the association between GPER polymorphisms and radiation sensitivity. Methods: The study included 50 healthcare workers exposed to ionizing radiation and 36 healthy individuals with no known occupational exposure to radiation. Genomic DNA was isolated and PCR products were purified using GeneAll kits. Genomic regions encompassing three GPER single-nucleotide polymorphisms (rs3808350, rs3808351, and rs11544331) were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), followed by DNA sequencing analysis using the BigDye Cycle Sequencing Kit. In addition, an in silico functional and clinical annotation of rs11544331 was performed using Ensembl VEP, SIFT, PolyPhen-2, AlphaMissense, CADD, UniProt, and ClinVar. Results: Genotypic, dominant, and allelic analyses revealed no significant association between radiation exposure and the rs3808350 or rs3808351 polymorphisms. In contrast, a statistically significant association was observed for rs11544331. The frequency of individuals carrying the CT and TT genotypes (CT + TT) was significantly higher in the ionizing radiation-exposed group compared with the control group (OR = 2.981; 95% CI: 1.106–7.904; p = 0.0241). In allelic analysis, the T allele was more prevalent in the exposed group and was significantly associated with radiation exposure (OR = 2.959; 95% CI: 1.282–6.606; p = 0.0110). In silico analysis confirmed that rs11544331 corresponds to the p.Pro16Leu substitution in GPER1; however, SIFT, PolyPhen-2, AlphaMissense, CADD, and ClinVar consistently indicated a tolerated, benign, likely benign, or low-deleteriousness profile. Conclusions: GPER-mediated stress responses and genetic polymorphisms may play a potential role in determining genetic susceptibility following exposure to ionizing radiation. Full article

We designed a label-free fluorescent aptasensor assisted by exonuclease III (Exo III) for sensitive insulin (Ins) detection. The method has high sensitivity, anti-interference properties and repeatability. Additionally, the label-free fluorescent aptasensor assisted by Exo III used to detect Ins has not been reported on yet. In this study, we connected a modified DNA sequence to the 5′ end of an aptamer, modifying it into a hairpin structure and exposing 11 nucleotides at the 3′ end containing the base adenine (A). The A was substituted with base 2-aminopurine (2AP) to provide a label-free stable hairpin fluorescent probe (2AP-hairpin probe). This strategy took advantage of the high binding affinity of the Ins aptamer and the susceptibility of 2AP to the local base stacking environment. When Ins is added to the detection system, the 2AP-hairpin probe binds to Ins, adopts a folded state, and blocks Exo III’s access to the binding site for cutting DNA. 2AP cannot be released, and the fluorescence of the 2AP-hairpin probe/cDNA/Ins/Exo III system cannot be restored. Ins detection is achieved by comparing changes in the fluorescent intensity before and after adding Ins to the detection system. The detection limit of the aptasensor is as low as 1.62 nM with a linear range of 3–130 nM. Furthermore, it is able to selectively and directly detect Ins in biological fluids, demonstrating significant clinical application value and research significance. Full article

Fly ash substitution for cement in Portland cement concrete (PCC) has been regarded as a sustainable solution, but its widespread application remains constrained by concerns over mechanical performance and durability of PCC, especially at higher replacement rates. This study evaluates PCC mixes incorporating fly ash Type C (FA-C) or Type F (FA-F) across cement replacement rates from 10% to 90%, tracking fresh-state workability, compressive strength, and surface electrical resistivity at 7, 14, and 28 curing days. A process-based life cycle assessment (LCA) with the TRACI 2.1 method quantified global warming potential (GWP, kg CO₂/m³) under a raw-material-plus-batching-electricity boundary for each mix. A Performance Index (PI) normalizes GWP against both compressive strength and electrical resistivity, producing a performance-weighted environmental efficiency metric (GWP/PI). A sensitivity analysis across five weighting scenarios tested the robustness of mix rankings under varying priorities for structural versus ironic transport resistance performance, and a structural threshold analysis identified mixes meeting strength requirements. FA-C at 50% cement replacement exceeded the OPC control in 28-day compressive strength (42.9 vs. 36.2 MPa) and electrical resistivity (9.88 vs. 8.50 kΩ·cm), while reducing GWP by 48.3% relative to the OPC control (40.24 kg CO₂/m³). FA-F at 30–50% replacement exhibited a distinct strength–resistivity decoupling, demonstrating that strength only evaluation underrepresents the environmental efficiency of durability-critical applications. The GWP/PI metric revealed that raw GWP reduction alone misrepresents environmental efficiency. FA-C at 50% achieved a GWP/PI of 17.73, which is a 56% improvement over the OPC control. These findings question the conventional <30% substitution ceiling at 28 days under standard moisture curing and demonstrate that performance-weighted LCA metrics provide a more informed basis for sustainable concrete mix design. Full article

Controversy persists on a global scale regarding the trade-offs between greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, yield, the global warming potential (GWP), and GHG intensity (GHGI) following organic fertilizer substitution within vegetable cropping systems. This study aimed to quantify these effects under diverse conditions and elucidate the direct and indirect drivers governing these outcomes through a meta-analysis and structural equation modeling (SEM). We synthesized 655 paired observations from 69 published studies using random-effects meta-analysis, finding that organic fertilizer substitution significantly increased CH₄ emissions and GWP compared to inorganic fertilizer controls. Although this was the general trend, organic fertilizer could reduce GWP under specific climatic and soil conditions by reducing N₂O emissions, such as mean annual precipitation <400 mm or soil total nitrogen ≥3 g kg⁻¹. These conditions were also associated with substantially higher yield and lower GHGI. Furthermore, SEM demonstrated that field management practices exerted significant direct effects on N₂O emissions, GWP, and GHGI. Reductions in N₂O emissions, GWP, and GHGI could be achieved with fertilizer application duration ≥10 years, total N application rate ≥300 kg ha⁻¹, and field cultivation or plowing. GHGI was also reduced through yield enhancement under a moderate organic substitution rate (33–66%) or irrigation ≥300 mm. Our study provides a scientific basis for moving beyond universal recommendations towards precision organic management, which is essential for optimizing fertilization strategies to mitigate agricultural GHG emissions. Full article

During the stage of high-quality economic development, the synergy between advancing county industrial structure and employment growth has become a key issue in county governance. Although existing studies confirm that industrial structure has both creation and substitution effects on employment, few have adopted a configurational perspective to reveal how combinations of multiple factors can jointly promote both advanced county industrial structure and employment growth, thereby achieving industry-employment synergy. From the perspective of inclusive growth, this study incorporates six factors-economic level, financial level, innovation level, human capital, fiscal expenditure, and agricultural resources-into a unified analytical framework under the dimensions of efficiency and equity. Using a mixed method that combines dynamic QCA and regression analysis, and taking 1128 Chinese counties as the sample, this study explores configurational pathways that can simultaneously achieve advanced county industrial structure and inclusive employment growth. The findings are as follows: (1) Four configurational pathways lead to advanced county industrial structure: market-driven with efficiency priority (C1), endowment-substituted with factor concentration (C2), endowment-dependent with efficiency-equity coordination (C3), and talent–innovation dual-driven with government assistance (C4). (2) These four pathways differ in their effectiveness in promoting industry–employment synergy. Configurations C1, C2, and C3 achieve coordinated development of county industry and employment, whereas configuration C4 promotes advanced county industrial structure but inhibits employment growth. The conclusions reveal multiple equivalent pathways for synergistically enhancing county industry and employment, providing a basis for local governments to formulate context-specific industry–employment coordination policies. Full article

Background: Di19 (drought-induced 19)proteins belong to the C2H2-type zinc-finger family and play a crucial role in regulating plant growth, developmental processes, hormone signal transduction, and abiotic stress adaptation. However, research on the Di19 gene family in sweet potato and its diploid relatives remains relatively limited. Methods: At the whole-genome level, members of the Di19 gene family in sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas, 2n = 6x = 90) and its two diploid relatives, Ipomoea trifida (2n = 2x = 30) and Ipomoea triloba (2n = 2x = 30) were systematically identified, and multi-dimensional bioinformatics analyses were carried out. Results: Seven Di19 genes were identified per species, with the family’s overall evolutionary characteristics conserved. Some IbDi19s showed species-specific structural variations, mainly manifested as an increase in the number of exons, loss or substitution of conserved motifs. The expression patterns of Di19s of two diploid relatives are highly conserved. IbDi19s are mainly expressed in leaves and roots. Most members respond significantly to JA treatment, but hardly respond to IAA. The expression of IbDi19-1 was significantly up-regulated by 336-fold and 68-fold under GA3 and cold treatments, respectively. Based on bioinformatics and expression data, a hypothesis was proposed that IbDi19-1 may be involved in the regulation of low-temperature response and gibberellin signaling pathways. Conclusions: This study provides candidate genes and a theoretical basis for evolutionary analysis, stress-resistant molecular breeding of the Di19 gene family in sweet potato and its two diploid relatives. Full article

Background/Objectives: DNA-targeting small molecules that induce replication stress represent a promising strategy in anticancer drug development. 1,8-Naphthalimide (NI) derivatives are well-established DNA-intercalating agents, and heterocyclic annulation offers a rational approach to enhancing their potency and tumor selectivity. Here, we report the synthesis and biological evaluation of a novel series of benzofuran-containing naphthalimide derivatives, with particular focus on the lead dinitro-substituted compound 5d. Methods: Cytotoxic activity was assessed using the MTT assay in A549 (p53 wild-type), H1299 (p53-null), and MRC-5 cells. Long-term antiproliferative effects were evaluated by clonogenic survival assay. Cell cycle distribution was analyzed by propidium iodide staining and flow cytometry. Replication stress and DNA damage were quantified by EdU incorporation and γH2AX immunofluorescence, respectively. Apoptosis was assessed by Annexin V/PI staining and caspase-3/7 activation assay. p53 nuclear accumulation and autophagy induction were evaluated by immunofluorescence and Western blot, using LC3 as an autophagic marker. Results: All compounds exhibited cytotoxic activity in the nanomolar range, with 5d emerging as the most potent and selective. Clonogenic survival was significantly reduced, indicating durable suppression of proliferative capacity. Treatment with 5d induced G₁ arrest in A549 cells and the accumulation of H1299 cells in G₂/M, consistent with p53-dependent and p53-independent checkpoint activation, respectively. EdU incorporation was markedly reduced, while γH2AX intensity increased, collectively supporting a replication stress-driven mechanism of DNA damage. Apoptosis was confirmed by increased Annexin V-positive populations and caspase-3/7 activation. LC3 puncta formation and LC3-I/LC3-II conversion were increased, indicating LC3 processing and autophagosome accumulation consistent with the activation of autophagy-related processes. Conclusions: 5d induces a cellular phenotype consistent with replication stress, including reduced EdU incorporation, γH2AX accumulation, cell cycle arrest, and apoptotic cell death in a p53 status-dependent manner. These findings establish benzofuran-annulated naphthalimides as a promising scaffold for the development of anticancer agents that exploit replication stress vulnerabilities in tumor cells. Full article

A six-week feeding experiment was carried out to investigate the suitability of wasted tofu meal (WTM) as a substitute protein source for fish meal (FM) in diets for juvenile yellowtail (Seriola quinqueradiata). A diet containing FM as the principal protein source served as the control (C), while WTM was incorporated to replace 20%, 35%, and 50% of the FM protein in the experimental diets, referred to as T20, T35, and T50, respectively. Juvenile fish with an initial average body weight of approximately 30.99 g were randomly distributed into 500-L tanks at a density of 20 fish per tank, with triplicate groups assigned to each dietary treatment. At the end of the feeding trial, fish fed the T20 diet showed no significant differences from the control group in final body weight, specific growth rate, daily feed intake, feed efficiency, or survival. However, fish receiving the T35 and T50 diets exhibited significant reductions in most growth performance indices compared with those fed the control diet. Although nutrient retention efficiency and plasma biochemical indicators associated with fish health were not significantly influenced by dietary treatment, alterations were observed in whole-body lipid composition and fatty acid profiles, including reductions in EPA, DHA, total n-3 fatty acids, and the n-3/n-6 fatty acid ratio with increasing WTM inclusion. Overall, the findings suggest that, under the dietary formulations tested, WTM can replace up to 20% of FM protein in diets for juvenile yellowtail without negatively affecting growth performance or physiological health; however, supplementation with n-3 HUFA-rich lipid sources may be required to maintain optimal whole-body fatty acid composition and product nutritional quality. Full article

The Sugars Will Eventually be Exported Transporters (SWEET) family plays a crucial role in the carbohydrate distribution, phloem loading, and stress response of plants, yet the evolutionary characteristics and functional diversification of SWEET genes in the endangered timber species Phoebe bournei (Hemsl.) Yen C. Yang remain largely unexplored. In this study, 21 PbSWEET genes were identified and classified into four subfamilies (A-D). Subfamily A exhibited a unique lineage expansion, mainly driven by tandem and segmental duplications. The nonsynonymous-to-synonymous substitution ratio (Ka/Ks) values of all duplicate gene pairs were all less than 1, indicating a strong selective suppression effect; consistent with this evolutionary constraint, the majority of PbSWEET proteins harbor the conserved Medicago truncatula Nodulin 3/saliva (MtN3_slv) domain, with only a few exceptions lacking a complete version. Promoter and hormone response analyses revealed that under abscisic acid (ABA) stress, PbSWEET4 exhibited an immediate burst, whereas PbSWEET10 showed a delayed burst. Physiological data indicated that soluble sugars may be more dominant osmolytes than proline (Pro), a pattern that points to a potential carbon-centric regulatory strategy. PbSWEET4 showed an early burst before sugar/oxidative peaks, suggesting a possible non-canonical signaling role, whereas PbSWEET10 exhibited a late increase coinciding with sugar/malondialdehyde (MDA) peaks, suggesting potential involvement in sugar redistribution. Under methyl jasmonate (MeJA) treatment, PbSWEET10 was rapidly induced, yet sugar accumulation occurred only at 24 h, a temporal decoupling that suggests a possible transcription–metabolism decoupling. Collectively, these correlative patterns point to a possible dual-wave transcriptional mechanism and nominate PbSWEET10 as a candidate for stress response, though these inferences require functional validation. Full article

Demand for greener and safer chemistries has driven the innovation of bioinspired and enzyme-mimicking catalysts for selective and efficient oxidation and hydrogenation under mild conditions. Natural catalysts, including peroxidases, oxidases, hydrogenases, oxygenases and dehydrogenases, boast remarkable activity, specificity, stability, selectivity, low energy requirements and atom economy. Disadvantages of enzymes, such as poor thermal stability, a narrow operational range, low recovery yield and the expense of purification, are motivating the discovery and design of enzyme substitutes. Several artificial platforms have appeared recently: nanozymes, artificial metalloenzymes, biomimetic metal Complexes, MOFs, atomic catalysts, bioinorganic hybrid systems, among others. These systems aim to replicate key structural and mechanistic features of enzymes while providing greater operational stability, recyclability, and scalability. Recent work has demonstrated the benefit of enzyme mimics in increasing eco-sustainability in reactions such as alcohol oxidation, selective alkane oxidation, waste degradation, catalytic photooxygen activation and biomass waste conversion. Similarly, biomimetic hydrogenation catalysts have shown outstanding activity in asymmetrically hydrogenating chemicals, reducing CO₂ into chemicals, hydrogenation by hydrogen transfer and creating hydrogen through water. Through control of active sites, second coordination sites, defects and electrons/protons in the system, significant gains have been seen in reaction selectivity and frequency of turning over substrate into product. Nanozymes, biohybrid catalysis and artificial catalysts guided by deep learning are further broadening the applications of biomimetic catalysis in oxidation and hydrogenation. The article review aims to provide a summary of the most current progress with bioinspired and enzyme-mimicking catalysts, focusing on catalytic mechanisms, how to design such catalysts, how green chemistry benefits from their development and where further application is likely in the coming years. Full article

Purpose: To provide an evidence-calibrated, time-bound clinical framework for using 38% silver diamine fluoride (SDF) as interim stabilization for severe early childhood caries (SECC) in young children, addressing gaps in existing guidelines regarding treatment duration, exit criteria, equity, and system accountability. Methods: This framework was developed from the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) guidance (2017–2025), the 2024 Cochrane review, real-world utilization studies, and a narrative review proposing a preservation-to-precision heuristic. Recommendations are expressed using GRADE terminology. Results: The framework includes ten recommendations, a systems drift principle, explicit time thresholds (<6 months, 6–12 months, >12 months), a 12-month reassessment mandate, equity guardrails, a bridge vs. destination consent model, and a future research agenda. A clinical vignette contrasts appropriate short-term bridging with prolonged temporization due to access barriers. Conclusions: SDF is conditionally recommended for caries arrest in primary teeth. In children with SECC, SDF should be used within a documented, time-bound preservation-to-precision pathway. SDF should not become an open-ended substitute for definitive restorative care. Explicit equity implementation prevents the framework from penalizing underserved children. Full article

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 exhibits extensive genetic diversity, which has important implications for molecular epidemiology, recombinant-pattern assessment, and antiretroviral resistance surveillance. In Mexico, HIV-1 molecular surveillance has historically relied mainly on partial pol gene sequencing, limiting the ability to compare lineage assignments across gag, pol, and env regions. We analyzed plasma samples from 40 treatment-naïve adults receiving care at a tertiary-care hospital in Mexico using a commercial amplicon-based multiregion HIV-1 genomic sequencing workflow. DeepChek^® was used as the primary workflow for read processing, mutation calling, region-level subtype assignment, and antiretroviral resistance interpretation. Resistance interpretation was restricted to antiretroviral target regions with sufficient coverage, mainly reverse transcriptase, protease, integrase, and capsid, when available. Drug resistance mutations were identified in 6/40 participants (15.0%) when mutation-level resistance findings in RT, PR, and IN were considered; one additional sample showed a capsid inhibitor-nonsusceptible NGS call. NNRTI-associated findings were identified in 2/40 patients (5.0%), whereas NRTI- and PI-associated findings were identified in 1/40 patients (2.5%). Accessory or secondary INSTI-associated substitutions were detected in 2/40 patients (5.0%). Region-level subtype analysis revealed frequent discordant assignments across amplified segments, which is consistent with complex mosaic profiles; however, these findings are interpreted as region-level subtypes and recombinant-pattern assignments rather than continuous whole-genome recombination maps. One sample had insufficient RT/PROT/INT coverage for drug resistance interpretation in the complete DeepChek report and was retained only for regions meeting quality thresholds. These findings support the value of multiregion HIV-1 sequencing for local molecular surveillance while emphasizing the need for transparent region-level coverage reporting, cautious interpretation of recombinant-pattern calls, and transparent repository reporting. Full article

Magnesium–rich environments are frequently encountered in cementitious systems, including the use of high–Mg raw materials in clinker production, cement–clay interfaces relevant to nuclear waste disposal, and exposure of cement–based materials to seawater, where progressive decalcification can substantially alter the structure and durability of calcium aluminosilicate hydrate (C–A–S–H) phases. In this study, density functional theory (DFT) calculations were employed to investigate the combined effects of interlayer and intralayer partial decalcification, Mg²⁺ substitution, and reinforcement with epoxy– and hydroxyl–functionalized reduced graphene oxide (rGO) on the structural stability and elastic properties of alkali charge–balanced C–A–S–H under dry and hydrated conditions. Adsorption–energy calculations reveal thermodynamically favorable interactions between functionalized rGO and silicate hydrate species in the presence of Mg²⁺, with hydroxyl/rGO promoting stronger interfacial stabilization and epoxy/rGO preserving greater graphene lattice integrity. The results demonstrate that Mg²⁺ substitution together with rGO intercalation generally enhances the mechanical response of partially decalcified structures through structural densification and interfacial cohesion. Relative to dry systems, hydration further improves elastic performance, increasing Young’s modulus and bulk modulus by 1–11% and 4–19%, respectively, for interlayer decalcified nanocomposites, while intralayer configurations exhibit stronger but model–dependent enhancements of up to ≈22% and ≈33%. Compared with untreated systems, rGO–treated nan–composites exhibit enhanced stiffness, with Young’s modulus and bulk modulus increasing by up to ≈22% and ≈15%, respectively. Overall, these findings provide atomistic insights into stabilization mechanisms in partially decalcified alkali charge–balanced C–A–S–H systems and identify Mg²⁺–rGO incorporation as a promising strategy for mitigating decalcification–induced degradation in durable low–carbon cementitious nanocomposites. Full article